Removal of a tube from an organ, structure, or orifice; specifically, removal of the endotracheal tube after intubation.
Dexmedetomidine (Precedex®). Alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist, used for control of hypertension postoperatively, as well as for its sedating qualities during awake craniotomy either alone or in conjunction with propofol. Also used to help patients tolerate endotracheal tubes without sedatives/narcotics to facilitate extubation.
see Early extubation.
Level III: In Head injury early extubation for patients meeting extubation criteria does not increase the risk of pneumonia.
In Surgical clipping of VA-PICA junction, saccular aneurysms when neurapraxia of the lower cranial nerves is likely (in cases of difficult dissection or traction applied during clipping) the patient is kept intubated overnight. Patients who do not tolerate extubation at this point are immediately reintubated and elective tracheostomy is scheduled. Tracheostomy is maintained until the neurapraxia resolves.